The Star’s All-Metro boys bowling team

In 11 years as a coach, Turner’s George Walden has never seen anyone quite like Chance Rivera.

Rivera, a senior bowler, has rewritten the record books at Turner and risen to become one of the most consistent performers in the state. After recording the highest average in the Kansas City area at 234, Rivera earned the title of The Star’s All-Metro boys bowler of the year for the second consecutive season.

“The way that he handles himself on the lanes is one thing, but then the way he handles himself with his teammates and does his job in the classroom and is a leader in the school — everything he does is right,” Walden said. “He is the dream scenario for a coach — to come in and you’ve got a kid that you don’t have to tell anything.”

This season, Rivera bowled the only two recorded 800 series in the high school season, as well as one of only four perfect games. He also placed first in all but two meets leading up to the state tournament, where he finished with a 605 series at the Kansas Class 5-1A state meet.

“I hope to have a couple more like him before my career is over, because he is special,” Walden said. “He comes and brings it every single day and wants to get better, not only at practice, but outside it. He is a fanatic about bowling.”

Rivera will continue his bowling career on scholarship in the fall at Newman University in Wichita.